Skoda Octavia Estate - any good?

Keith

I've been looking at the VRS version, they look like a cracking family car.

CheltBloke

Hi, Personally I think Skodas have been completely underrated. However I'd hold out for the MK2 (2004.5 onwards I believe).
Also please be aware that the 1.6L came in 2 or 3 different forms, I'd say that you need the ones nearer to 100BHP, rather than I believe one which was close to 80BHP. Please though check this yourself as I'm going off knowledge from the A3 range, (which was built from the same platform).

I'd be really careful about the warrenties, they usually do not include anything which suffers movement (i.e. wheel bearings, engines, gear boxes, clutches...) and are much more hassle than they are worth. I'd save the money in the bank.

Have you looked up for other estates the old mondeo was really good and can be very very cheap. (They just look a bit dated, but so what? When you are in it you don't see the outside of it.)

grizzly1911

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay wrote: »

The leg space for rear passengers is limited (hence the large boot).

They are based on the golf floor plan I believe hence the limited rear leg room for size of car.

Do you need an estate or could you make do with the hatch, probably not much difference on floor size of luggage area alone.


Use to be a Seat Toledo too but not sure how long they made them for.

80000 miles seems low?

rodenal

CheltBloke wrote: »

Hi, Personally I think Skodas have been completely underrated. However I'd hold out for the MK2 (2004.5 onwards I believe).
Also please be aware that the 1.6L came in 2 or 3 different forms, I'd say that you need the ones nearer to 100BHP, rather than I believe one which was close to 80BHP. Please though check this yourself as I'm going off knowledge from the A3 range, (which was built from the same platform).

I'd be really careful about the warrenties, they usually do not include anything which suffers movement (i.e. wheel bearings, engines, gear boxes, clutches...) and are much more hassle than they are worth. I'd save the money in the bank.

Have you looked up for other estates the old mondeo was really good and can be very very cheap. (They just look a bit dated, but so what? When you are in it you don't see the outside of it.)

Could be wrong but I don't think that's correct, I believe the 1.6 in the a3 came in either 105 or 115bhp iterations, would be almost unheard of for a modern 1.6 to produce below 100bhp

Toledo as above could be worth a look, they're largely forgotten about and therefore dirt cheap, saloon only though I think

beaker141

Ive got an 02 plate Ocatvia Est 1.9tdi and its a cracking car - had it from 1 year old and its never given too much trouble.

Had the cam belt and water pump changed, the cat converter went last year and needed a new one for the mot and the central locking doesnt work too well anymore - but Id generally rather put up with a few issues than spend excessive amounts trying to get them fixed up.

getmore4less

http://briskoda.net/

Usefull site if interested in Skoda.

Preston_Dave

Disagree with some of previous posts. Have had a 1.6 Octavia Elegance (import from Ireland) from new (January 2002). Car has done nearly 150K. Don't notice fuel economy which suggests to me car is fairly efficient on petrol. Also regularly pulls caravan with family of four and 4 mountain bikes. Yes, I have to change down to 2nd or even 1st when climbing steep hills, but only to be expected. I can sacrifice the 0-60 in X seconds for the better fuel efficiency. Major problems were Cam Belt went after 100K in Poland whilst pulling caravan in 2007; Engine needed reconditioning March 2011. After that I'm scraping barrel as to 'costly' faults: N/S wheel bearing replaced 2 years ago and very occasionally brakes need doing for MOT. Never been serviced in its long life. Have had 3 adults and 2 children in car seats in, but agree it is a squeeze and wouldn't want to go far with this load because adult in back felt squashed. Now children are older and free from car seats, only problem is due to dropping sweets and crisp packets in back! Very secure car. AA couldn't break in without smashing a window. Also cheap Breakdown cover as they don't very often (twice in nearly 10 years; once in Poland 2007 and today!!) Word of warning about car you are thinking of buying, I think Cam Belt may need replacing if it hasn't already been done. 80K very near to limit. I could have done a lot of damage to mine at over 100K. If it goes, it can damage your engine. Not sure how expensive to replace Cam Belt. :rotfl:Hope this helps!!:j

DarrenGreen

Thanks for all your replies. I went to see the estate and it was a bag of nails, whilst there I did see a non-estate and when I opened the boot I was amazed it was a hatchback, and the boot is very large. Short story is I've bought a 2003 hatchback with 60k miles.

auroan

The 1.6 VAG gearbox of that age (1999 to 2004) suffers from what they call the "chocolate rivet" problem. Basically... if the car has been driven hard for a period of it's life it could suffer from a rivet sheering in the diff housing. 9 times out of ten it launches it's self through the gearbox and out the other side.

DarrenGreen

auroan wrote: »

The 1.6 VAG gearbox of that age (1999 to 2004) suffers from what they call the "chocolate rivet" problem. Basically... if the car has been driven hard for a period of it's life it could suffer from a rivet sheering in the diff housing. 9 times out of ten it launches it's self through the gearbox and out the other side.

Should have said, the model I bought is a 2.0 litre Abiente, so not the 1.6.